Speed Bumps and other "Traffic calming" devices.

[rgramjet]

I have been recently labeled the neighborhood heathen due to my vocal opposition to "traffic calming devices". 

The local residents association wants to riddle our streets with speed bumps, islands and possibly a circle or two.  I am against any and all of these measures especially with the congestion that will increase due to Walter Reed moving to 355. 

Ive stated, on the sometimes heated listserve debates, that taxpayer dollars are being wasted.  These things interfere with snow plows and slow emergency vehicles before and after pickup (not to mention my vision of someday owning a Lamborghini!!!).  Can anyone think of any other reasons to not install these unnecessary obstructions?

Its like the sheep are looking for a better way to corral themselves.  These are two lane residential streets, speed limit is 25 and there are plenty of stop signs.  We already have the flags and extended sidewalks in a couple locations.....ug.

[ryandalling]

We threw out those silly children at play signs with a flag on them... slowed traffic down a bunch... but the old neighborhood put in "speed humps" and the plows stopped going down their road.... so I back you on not wanting them.  Plus, they are annoying.

[rgramjet]

Another point I made is what are all {{{{THE CHILDREN}}}} going to do when some day they come to a real intersection sans any sort of traffic calming device or flag to wave about??  They will have no skilz!

[akmnstr]

One day, several years ago, I was riding my first monster with my wife on the back so I had a bit less ground clearance.  I also had a low slung Sil full system exhaust.  A speed bump caught my header and put a dent in it even though I was going real slow.  I mean, the exhaust system cost close to $1K.  You could use my testimony as an argument.  I'm sure your neighbors will change their minds when they realize that the bumps could damage an Italian Moto/work of art.   

[dolci]

Roger - good luck with it.  The citizens of MoCo seems determined to put those damned things in everywhere.  I had them in my neighborhood over in N. Potomac (which is really W. Gaithersburg) and the contractor put them in so high that several cars were seriously damaged and the HOA had to pay to have everything removed and redone.  When I come through Potomac, they're in one section near Carderock and it's miserable.

Our current neighborhood streets are SO freakin narrow that you can't speed particularly well except in a few places (where they put in a very small kind of bump-ish thing) so I"m hoping to escape that fate.

I think reminding them that snow plows will demolish them and everything will have to redone continually MAY be your most persuasive argument.

[Raux]

Get the circles at every intersection.... but no bumps...

THEY ARE FUN at speed 

[zooom]

all they need is for 1 person's Lamborghini or other high end exotic carbon fiber sports car to be damaged on those and the HOA/County to have to pay for it....hell...even a Callaway Vette is low enough to do it and be a nasty expense...

in dolci and I's current neighborhood, 1 traffic control device that seems to work a little bit and is less obstructive or intrusive or destructive is in certain intersections...they raise up the entire center of the intersection between all 4 of the crosswalks about 2-3 inches at about a 20% grade....

[fastwin]

Screw the road bumps. Why not just let the cops do their job and write tickets. Slows down traffic, no stupid bumps and the city gets revenue from the citations.

[Grampa]

Install a magic roundabout.

[DW]

Just buy a supermoto and jump them!  These things just encourage some bad behavior.

[RAT900]

Screw the road bumps. Why not just let the cops do their job and write tickets. Slows down traffic, no stupid bumps and the city gets revenue from the citations.

+ 11ty billion.....our township is always whining about needing more money....they could fund a skyscraper for town hall if they would just write summonses for all the stop sign blow-thru's in our town

[DRKWNG]

I have been recently labeled the neighborhood heathen.

You really expect us to believe this? 

Remember, I've met your neighbors. 

[rgramjet]

BLAST!  Once again, my reputation precedes me.....

[the_Journeyman]

I thought speed humps & bumps are wheelie assistants?

JM

[He Man]

They installed a speed hump on my block in september, removed it in May the following year, and left the signs up.

Im pretty sure that whole process cost about $30,000. thats a lot of freaking tax payer money that was thrown up into the air for no reason.

im sure they will install it again